Freeview HD only went live in New Zealand three months ago, but already upwards of 7,500 installations have been logged. Even more impressive is the overall quantity of Freeview receivers sold (123,903), with 25,000 of those being moved this quarter. Freeview bigwig Steve Browning proclaimed that he "didn't think it would be quite this fast," but plans are already in place to produce a Freeview PVR for the adoring public. As expected, Browning and company are fully expecting adoption to increase further when the Olympics kick off, though he wasn't so bold as make a prediction about exact numbers. Here's to hoping that an astronomical amount of Kiwis take the high-def dive.

Folks traveling to DVB-T / Freeview land (that would be across the pond for you Yankees) should certainly give thought to how they're going to receive their much needed dose of OTA programming while there. If you're still living without a USB tuner, have a gander at Elgato's latest. The EyeTV DTT Deluxe snaps right into any spare USB port (on a Mac, that is) and picks up DVB-T / Freeview signals within range. Bundled in, you'll find the recently released EyeTV 3 software, two types of aerial antennas and an EyeTV remote. Folks in Europe can snatch the unit right now for €79.95 ($126), and while we're hoping for an ATSC version to surface shortly, there's nothing to signify that our dreams are close to coming true.

[Via 123MacMini]

Although Freeview has been destined for HD for quite some time, it has been far too long since we've heard about any progress. Thankfully, the Beeb is attempting to change all that, and it's moving forward with DVB-T2 tests. Reportedly, said standard is an advanced version of DVB-T -- the protocol currently used in the UK for digital terrestrial transmissions -- that provides an increase in efficiency and more bandwidth for more content. If all goes to plan, at least three high-def channels (one of which will be BBC) will be carried via DVB-T2 by the close of 2009, but it seems that ITV, Channel 4 and Five will have to cast lots for the remaining two openings.

[Via Digital Spy]

Good luck convincing Grandma to pack a DVR-250 next to the same telly that's been avoiding TV detectors for years, but how about a "match box-sized" addition that gives all the benefits of the digital switchover and without taking up a lot of space? TVonics MFR-300 improves on previous versions with support for Audio Description allowing people with sight problems to hear subtle on screen changes described, plus interactive TV features, EPG and parental controls. The 70mm x 27mm x 54mm box is available for £59.99 and can actually mount behind the TV, so all that's left is teaching your family how to use it -- good luck with that.

For those in the UK looking for a travel-friendly way to pick up free-to-air satellite TV (including Freesat), Hauppauge has just the thing. The not-exactly-cute WinTV Nova-S USB2 gives users the ability to watch full-screen programming on their laptop or PC, and better still, it can be "linked to a card reader [the optional WinTV-CI, we assume] to give access to subscription channels." Per usual, users will be able to pause, rewind and record live TV for watching back later, and considering that a remote and WinTV software are already bundled in, you should be all set right out of the £79.99 ($158) box.

[Via PC Advisor]

Right on cue, Television New Zealand (TVNZ) -- the nation's largest free-to-air broadcaster -- has gone live with the country's first ever HD digital service. By utilizing DiviCom Electra 7000 high-definition encoders, the new Freeview digital terrestrial television (DTT) service was launched this week and is currently available to "approximately 75 percent of homes nationwide." Of course, what we want to know is: how does the quality rate? Drop us a note below and make us all envious of where you call home.

It's official: HD aficionados in the UK will soon be able to get their fix via Freeview. If you'll recall, the Freeview HD trial that took place in 2006 went over quite well, and according to Ofcom, up to four free HD channels will be broadcast. Unfortunately, users looking forward to such niceties will be forced to wait until analog is switched off in their neck of the woods, and of course they'll also need an HD-ready TV and a new set-top-box. We've already heard that BBC will be one of the four channels, and ITV, Channel 4, Five and Welsh network S4C have all been "invited to bid for [the other] three slots in which they can broadcast high-definition TV or other new services." On the upside, the whole of the country should be digital by 2012, just in time for the London Olympics -- and for those lucky souls in and around Whitehaven, you'll get the spoils first.

[Thanks, Kieran and Andy]

You can't do much better than William Shatner to launch a nation into its HD future, and that's exactly who New Zealand will get. TV3 is making its HD debut with Boston Legal, and has ten other shows lined up to round out the roster. We're a little confused on the timing of things, since the press release says the curtain falls on April 1, but the underlying Freeview HDTV platform isn't slated for takeoff until April 2. Opening night mixups or cruel April Fool's joke aside, click on through for the full TV3 lineup -- things look pretty good with HD faves in the mix like CSI, My Name is Earl and NCIS.

[Via Mike's View]

Kiwis, clear your calendars, OTA HDTV hits April 2. Freeview HD won't need very much of the April window earlier given for its launch, with TVOne, TV2 and TV3 all broadcasting in HD covering an estimated 75-percent of New Zealand homes, with set-top boxes expected on sale the same day. The big media event doesn't take place until the 14th, but why wait?

Considering that the rest of the globe seems to be chiming in with its own tidbits of HD news, we're not surprised to see New Zealand getting in on the fun, too. Apparently, a pair of new Topfield HD devices are on sale now for folks residing in the aforementioned nation, the first of which is the TF7710HSCI HDMI Digital Satellite Receiver. Aside from the HDMI / component outputs along with digital audio support, the $388 unit sports dual CI slots to pull in Freeview transmissions and encrypted / pay TV channels. As for the $714.79 TF6000PVR ES HDMI Digital Satellite Receiver / PVR, you'll find many of the same features along with 320GB of recording space, a USB 2.0 port and an Ethernet jack for transferring shows to one's PC. Hit up the read links below for much more information on the pair.

Read - TF7710HSCI
Read - TF6000PVR ES

If you thought it was hard to keep track of the network players in the US, check out the roster in Australia. Seven Networks has been representing for TiVo for less than a year, but is now getting competition from Channels Nine and Ten. New markets don't just develop overnight, so the competition coming in the form of FreeView is no small thing. No knock on TiVo, which gets lots of love here in the US, but FreeView has a wide range of OEM and broadcaster support. And that broadcaster support may push things in FreeView's favor, forcing Seven to abandon plans to make TiVo a centerpiece of an Australian TV platform. Sad to think that the TiVo bleeps and bloops down under could go silent, eh?

New Zealand doesn't have to be jealous of Australia much longer, as Freeview OTA HD service is on track to launch in April. Call Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Napier, Hastings, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch or Dunedin your 'hood? Then you'll probably be able catch Lord of the Rings next time its broadcast in HD and marvel at the beautiful scener...oh, nevermind. Still, we're sure you'll find a good reason to check out TV1, TV2 and TV3, with appropriate digital set-top box and antenna.

Read - Freeview readies for main event
Read - Freeview - What's New?

DSG International, the parent company to Currys, Dixons and PC World stores across Europe, has announced that it will no longer be stocking analog sets (sound familiar?). Granted, only 10-percent of the remaining TVs it sold were of the analog flavor, but it looks as if even those units will soon be gone. Reportedly, the chains are looking to further promote units with integrated digital Freeview tuners, and considering that some parts of Europe have already begun the analog-to-digital switchover, we suppose that follows logic precisely. Also of note, these same retailers will halt sales of DVD recorders with only analog tuners within, but on the real, we can't say we'll miss 'em.

[Image courtesy of Waltondale, thanks CMC]

Just a month after we heard that the BBC was mulling the decision to add a dedicated HD channel comes word that the BBC Trust has given the all-important thumbs-up to the idea. Reportedly, the "mixed genre" channel will show programs from across all of the BBC's stations and will air on cable / satellite "as soon as possible." Additionally, the channel should launch on Freesat just as soon as that goes live, but proposals for viewing it via Freeview were put on hold "because viewers might have been required to buy two new set-top boxes to receive the channel." So, for all you Brits out there, let us know how splendid the channel is when it becomes available -- hopefully your patience will pay off.

[Via Guardian]

We've never been much for using one's television as their primary web surfing display -- after all, how do you expect to get any work done with last week's episode of The Office drawing your attention away from that oh-so-critical PowerPoint -- but for those who'd enjoy access every now and then without having to attach a dedicated computer, Babel TV could be just the thing. Available solely in the UK, this multifaceted set-top-box enables users to tune into and record Freeview broadcasts, stream video clips / programming from the web and even make VoIP calls. Furthermore, the box is "managed remotely by Babel TV's technical team," and copies of all your files can be automatically stored at a secure location (for a price, we presume). Reportedly, the unit should be available early next month for £295 ($602), and yes, that does include a wireless keyboard and pointer to keep you firmly planted on the sofa.

[Via TechDigest]